Calls for Long-Term Engine Changes from Norris and Piastri
Formula One is experiencing increasing pressure to implement both immediate and long-term modifications to its new engine regulations. Following the Miami Grand Prix, the world champion reiterated that the only effective solution to widespread dissatisfaction within the sport was to "get rid of the battery." This sentiment reflects ongoing concerns about the current engine formula introduced for the 2026 season.
At the Florida event, where Lando Norris finished second, Formula One and the FIA introduced fresh regulations aimed at addressing discontent and safety issues related to the significant role of energy management under the new 2026 power unit formula. The current setup features an almost equal split between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and electrical energy.
Despite adjustments made during the Miami weekend, which were seen as a positive step, dissatisfaction with the fundamental design remains. Norris highlighted this ongoing issue, stating:
“It’s a small step in the right direction but it’s not to the level that we should still be at yet. If you go flat-out everywhere and you try pushing like you were in previous years you still just get penalised for it. You still can’t be flat-out everywhere. You should never get penalised for that kind of thing and you still do.
“Honestly, I don’t really think you can fix that. You just have to get rid of the battery. So hopefully in a few years, that’s the case.”
Norris’s views were supported by his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who emphasized that despite the collaborative efforts between the FIA and F1 to tweak the rules, the core issue lies in the engine’s fundamental operational design.
“The collaboration again from the FIA and F1 has been good, but there’s only so many things you can change with the hardware we have,” he said. “So some changes in the future are still needed for sure. How quickly we can do it is the big question.”
Piastri’s stance is reportedly widely shared within the sport, where there is general consensus on reducing the electrical energy’s role and increasing that of the combustion engine. Although a hardware redesign to increase fuel flow to the engine is considered relatively straightforward, any changes would require agreement from teams and engine manufacturers by the Canadian Grand Prix in three weeks to be implemented for the next season.
FIA President Signals Possible Return to V8 Engines
During the Miami weekend, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed his belief that Formula One would eventually phase out the current V6 hybrid engines in favor of V8 engines with "minor electrification." The V8 engines, last used between 2006 and 2013, are characterized by their light weight, relative simplicity, and loud sound. These engines would operate on fully sustainable fuel, similar to current power units.
Ben Sulayem stated,
“V8 is coming.”He outlined a timeline targeting introduction by 2030 or 2031. However, the immediate focus remains on whether short-term engine regulation changes can be agreed upon.
Mercedes Open to Engine Regulation Changes, Cautious on Timing
Mercedes, currently holding the best engine on the grid, views the proposal as worthy of consideration. However, team principal Toto Wolff suggested that such changes would not be feasible for the upcoming season.
“Can we tweak it and optimise it in the midterm? Absolutely,”Wolff said.
“We will never be against making the show even better. We could extract a bit more performance out of the ICE, great. Give us enough lead time so we can actually do it.
“From a Mercedes standpoint, we are open to new engine regulations. We love V8s. It has only great memories. It’s a pure Mercedes engine, it revs high. How do we give it enough energy from the battery side to not lose connection to the real world? Because if we swing to 100% combustion, it might be looking a bit ridiculous in 2031 or 2030.”
